COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 August 1934, Page 9

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Thirteenth Hawera Series Commenced To=day SEASON OF FIVE DAYS OVER 1100 ENTRIES! Covering a very vide field of art in no clashes ol vocal and instrumental music, elocution and dancing, tlie lotn annual competitions lestival in rrawera opened this morning under tlie auspices of tlie xiawera male Choir, tne opera House and foresters' xiuil were centres of unusual activity from an early wlien, amidst an air of antense enthusiasm among compositors and an atmosphere of parental pride among those of the adult audiences, the five-day season was commenced m real earnest.

iSiuco its inception the festival lias had an uninterrupted record of success until this year the record of over liOl) entries has been achieved. In 1960, the previous best year, there wero 8/ classes which drew the high total of 715 competitors. The following year tlie entries dropped to 084 in Ou classes and in 193 z there was a considerable increase to 629 entries in 5y classes. Cast year, although not quite as numerous as at the previous lestivals, 610 entries in 67 classes was regarded as highly satisfactory when tne prevailing period of economic stress was taken into consideration. Whilst -there has 'been no very great change in the condition of the country in tne last 1~2 months, this year's response firom teaclieis and pupils is all tne more creditable and. fully justifies tlie executive in its extension of the Classes ovc-r a very much wider field. Two pleasuig Tea/buxes ot tiie* onto*ies are the number of choir’s and quartettes competing. In previous years four days have been sufficient in which to complete the festival, but this week five-days will be required and no time must be lost.

The official programme issued by tlie committee includes the test pieces for piano solos and duets m eight classes of instrumental music and the open test, “Fantasie Impromptu in G Sharp Minor” (Chopin), for which there are eight competitors. In the piano solo classes the most promising competitor, in the judge's opinion, will be awarded the .Daisy Reilly Memorial Scholarship of £lO. There are also throe violin sok> classes, including the open test “Obertass” (Mazurka), Op, 19, iNo. 1 (Wienianski), for which there are five entries, an instrumental trio class and violincello and woodwind instrument solo classes, which complete a most comprehensive section. INTEREST IN; VOCAL WORE. Twenty-eight classes of vocal music promise excellent competition and work ot a very high standard, particularly in children's chorus and unison singing ( unaccompanied). Adult choirs arc more strongly represented this year in the contest for the .Brunette Shield and there is a good range of own selections in addition to the tost anthem, ‘ 'Thanks Be to Cod” (from Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”). Other choral work will be heard from the ladies’ choirs in the test “There is a Garden'* (John Tait) in addition to own selections, from the mixed quartettes in tlie test “Kentucky Babe” and own selections, and from the male quartettes in the test “Bonnie Banks ol Loch Lomond” and own selections. A large section of 18 classes of elocution includes the ever-popular open character recital in costume as well as the three test recitations “The Serenader’.’ for girls 10 and under 13, “The Listeners” for girls 13 and under 16, and “An Incident of the French Camp,” for boys 10 and under 13. Other features are lyric verse speaking, Impromptu speech and dialogue (open), as well as other classes for recitation in costume and juvenile dialogue. There are 21 classes of fancy and national dancing—two more than lasi year. Outstanding features in the section are the operatic, character, deliftcharacter and Irish and Soofctish dances, and English folk dances, all of which have been well filled. The bulk of the judging will be done at the Opera House and the remainder at the Foresters’ Hall and Scout Hall (mornings and afternoons only). To-night’s programme at the Opera House williinclude the recall items at to-day’s sessions, with the addition of mezzo-soprano solo (open, own selection), character or demi-character dance 13 years and over, operatic dance 13 years and over, skipping dance 13 years and over, ladies’ choir (open, 12 to 15 voices) in the test “There Is a Garden” and own selections, and male quartette (unaccompanied) in the test “Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond” and own selections. The session will commence at 7 p.m. and the official -opening of the festival 'by the Mayor of Hawera (Mr J. E. Campbell) will take place at 7.30 p.m. The adjudicators are as follow. Vocal and instrumental music, Mr E. Varley Hudson; elocution, Mr Dennis Johns; dancing, Miss Daphne Knight. Miss Kathleen Fairliall, of Hawera, is the official aecompaniste. As in past years the festival is conducted on most efficient lines by the executive committee, Messrs. F. W. Horner (chairman), j \y. Velvin, A. H. Morris and J. C. Findlater with Mr. T. F. McKenzie as secretary, aided by a loyal staff of other helpers. The first stages of the following classes were finalised' up to the time Clie late edition of the “Hawera Star” went to press to-day: RiECffTATION IN CHARACTER. Girls 10 and under 13 years; own selection. Recalls: Leila Davies (Hawera), “Tootles”; Rluby Toy (Hawera), “Peter Pan” ; and Merle Fairweatlier (Hawera), “Pandora.” Also competed (all of Hawera except where otherwise mentioned): Pixie Kent, “Alice”; Dorothy Hopcroft (Normanbv). “Madame Make Believe” ; Betty West, “The Frog Prince” : Alison Corrigan.. “Cossette”; Joyce Peperell, “The Fairy 1 1 Godmother” ; Nancy Evans. “The 1 I Sleeping Beauty”; Joyce Warcup, l “Joe Marsh” ; Barbara. Malone, “Peter Pan”; Judith Fyson, “Alice”; Ha-

zel Johns, “Dolly Varden”; Joyce Spratt, “Goldilocks”; Nancy Hopkins, “'Lorna Doone”; Flora Roberts (Ararata) “Ariel” ; Doreen Peperell (Eltham),’ “Ariel”; Marjorie Ufe (Taurakawa), “Lorna D'oone and John”; Thelma Cox (Stratford), “Pandora’-’; Betty Sage, “Lorna Doone”; Muriel Oppenheim, “Prince Charming.” SONG. Boys under 10 years, own selection. Recalls: Peter Williams (New' Plymouth), “Morning Song”; Bruce Hamilton (Hawera), “April Showers” ; and Lindsay Holloway (Hawera), ‘ ’Swallows.” Also competed (all of Hawera except where otherwise mentioned): Kevin Percival, “The Scarecrow”; Desmond Ellis, “What a Wonderful World it Would Be”; Edward Slater (Ohangai), “The Seasons”; Dick Rankin' (El- j tfiam), “Early One Morning”; Arthur] Vealo. “The Fox and the Grapes”; George Sargent, “Just Think’.’; Dick Wilton, “Song of Cheer”; Douglas Horton, “Cheery ’Song”; Hartlev Gannaway, “Song of Cheer.” CHARACTER RECITAL IN COSTUME. Open, own selection. Recalls: Miss W. Quin (Hawera), “Ophelia”; Miss J. Goodwin (Hawera), “Beatrice.” Highly commended: Miss V. J ones (Hawera), “Fanny Squeers” ; Miss D. Gilmore (Hawera), “Constance.” Also competed (all. of Hawera except where otherwise mentioned) : Miss S. Johnson (Tokaora), “Queen Katherine’s Defence” ; Miss J. Knightbridge, “Lorna Doone”; Miss F. Spencer (Eltham), “Little Orange Blossom”; Miss G. Tonkins (Wanganui), “Andromache”; Miss E. Kelsen, “Madame Defarge”; Miss E. Rowland, “Madam Butterfly”; Miss G. Reynolds, “Titania”; Miss M. Quin, “The Princess”; Miss N. King, “Scrooge”; Miss S. Davy, “Phoebe”; Miss M. Wilson, “Mary Magdalen”; Miss A. Hall (Kakaramea), “Miss Mattie”; Miss N. Turnbull, “Madame Sans Gene”; Miss N. Fake, “Comedy and Tragedy”; Miss D. Bryant, “Madame Defarge.” PIANO' SOLO. Fourteen and under 16 years; test, “Ocean Spray” (Paul Lorraine). Recalls : Joyce Durham (Hawera), Alan Reynolds (Eltliam). Highly commended: Charmian Barrow (Hawera), Donald Kirkby (Hawera).

Also competed (all. of Hawera except where otherwise mentioned): Marion Dundas (Okaiawa), Josephine Mark (Stratford), Sally Henderson (Stratford). Marjorie Horner, Flossie Voitrekovsky (Inglewood), Phyllis Jeffery (Wanganui), Norma Harper (Stratford), Ivy Morgan (Eltham), Jean McAsey (Normanby), Betty

Johnson, Gwen Lodge (Eltham), Lynn Henderson, Edith Fowler (Kakaramea), Alison Murray. GIRL’S SONG. Fourteen and under 17; own selection. Recalls: Doris Gilmore (Hawera), “The Wild Rose” ; Patricia Dempsey (Hawera), “Aimorid Blossoms”; Betty Elntwistle (Hawera), “Oherry Ripe.” Also competed (all of Hawera except where otherwise mentioned): Jean Dempsey, “Rose Softly Blooming”; Rachel Mawhinney (Patea), “The Little Damozel”; Viva Goldstone, “Swallows”; Ida Mehrtens (Stratford); Pauline McEwen (Normanby), “Break of Day”; Nola Arthur (Eltham), “To a Miniature”; Betty Worley, “You’ve Got Your Mother’s Eyes”; Joyce Durham, “May Dew”; Jessie Glasgow (Wanganui), “April is a Lady”; Margaret Comber “Tired Haands”; Eileen Kelsen, “Apple Tree Fairy.” CHILDREN’S CHORUS. Under 14 years, 12 to 15 voices, unaccompanied. Test: “O, Hush Thee, My Bahv.” Hawera junior girls A choir 1, Hawera Convent girls 2. Also competed: Hawera Main School. New Plymouth Central School, Elderslie choir (Hawera) and Hawera Convent boys.